Around 10:30 a.m., Wednesday through Saturday, people begin lining up at Evie Mae’s Barbecue in Wolfforth for the 11 a.m. open, hoping to get a taste of some of the best barbecue in Texas. And that is not just a local opinion anymore.

Evie Mae’s was ranked the ninth best barbecue restaurant in Texas by Texas Monthly on Monday, beating out hundreds of barbecue joints for a coveted spot in the Top 10.

"I think our little West Texas secret will be no more," Joaquin Borrego, a professor at Texas Tech and an Evie Mae’s regular, said while waiting in line on Thursday.

Borrego said he had been a fan of Evie Mae’s since the restaurant’s days as a trailer on a corner in Wolfforth. That is around the time Texas Monthly Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn said he found Evie Mae’s as well.

Arnis Robbins, owner of Evie Mae’s, said an initial Texas Monthly review Vaughn wrote about the restaurant in 2015 sparked business and it has not slowed down since.

When Vaughn visited Evie Mae’s again, he said he was pleasantly surprised that the location had changed, but the food had not.

"Personally, I am so happy to see this place elevated to where it is now," Vaughn said in a phone interview. "I mean, it was one of my big finds."Evie Mae’s Barbecue truck sells out in all weather

When Robbins, wife Mallory and daughter Evie Mae - the namesake of the restaurant - moved to Lubbock in 2014 to be closer to family, they did not plan on making a living in the barbecue business. Robbins said it was a hobby he enjoyed, but he was increasingly becoming more serious about.

"Anyone who barbecues - your neighbors, friends, family -they always tell you that you should open up a joint," Robbins said. "But, I had a real passion for it."

While still in Tucson, Arizona, Robbins said, he operated a barbecue food trailer once a week. Arizona is not famous for its barbecue, he said, which gave him the opportunity to experiment with spices and woods to smoke the best meat possible in a low-pressure environment.

After trying every spice in the cabinet, Robbins said he found the winning combination: salt and pepper. He said he uses oak wood in his smoke pits, and that he is particular about the dryness and size of the wood. Robbins said the cut of meat is also a key to good barbecue.

"If you start out with all good everything, you come out with a good product in the end," Robbins said. "That’s the philosophy."

For Vaughn, the quality of Evie Mae’s food is what stood out the most about the restaurant, noting that the flavor and cuts of the meat are consistently pleasing. Vaughn said he was also impressed with the side and desert options, which are all gluten free.

Though the kitchen is gluten free, Robbins said he still serves gluten products like bread and hamburger buns in the restaurant.

Another big draw to the restaurant for Vaughn, and other customers, was the atmosphere. Evie Mae’s offers free beer to those waiting in line, no purchase necessary. Robbins said they chose to not sell alcohol because the cost was not worth the revenue, since Evie Mae’s is only open for lunch four days a week.

"It’s a cool way to thank you for coming and devoting your time to wait in line and come and eat," Robbins said. "Have a beer on us. Or two!"

Robbins said local support has been great, but that being included in the Texas Monthly Top 50 Barbecue Joint list increases potential for new customers.

"Barbecue is a fanatical food," Robbins said. "You’ve got casual diners who love it. But you also have people who will drive across the state to check out a place they’ve never heard of."

Some of those customers had already made their way to Evie Mae’s on Thursday. Brandon Zachry is a Texas Tech graduate visiting Lubbock for work. While visiting, he said he had to go to some familiar favorites, but wanted to try new restaurants as well. He said multiple people suggested Evie Mae’s, and the restaurant’s appearance on the list solidified his decision to check it out.

"I was already coming," Zachry said with a laugh.

Evie Mae’s is located at 217 US-62 in Wolfforth and serves lunch Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. until they run out.

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